Standard Testing Platform Research Articles

Event-based asynchronous HDR imaging by temporal incident light modulation

Dynamic range (DR) is a pivotal characteristic of imaging systems. Current frame-based cameras struggle to achieve high dynamic range imaging due to the conflict between globally uniform exposure and spatially variant scene illumination. In this paper, we propose AsynHDR, a pixel-asynchronous HDR imaging system, based on key insights into the challenges in HDR imaging and the unique event-generating mechanism of dynamic vision sensors (DVS). Our proposed AsynHDR system integrates the DVS with a set of LCD panels. The LCD panels modulate the irradiance incident upon the DVS by altering their transparency, thereby triggering the pixel-independent event streams. The HDR image is subsequently decoded from the event streams through our temporal-weighted algorithm. Experiments under the standard test platform and several challenging scenes have verified the feasibility of the system in HDR imaging tasks.

Snow Geese Algorithm: A novel migration-inspired meta-heuristic algorithm for constrained engineering optimization problems

This paper proposes a novel nature-inspired meta-heuristic algorithm, named Snow Geese Algorithm. It is inspired by the migratory behavior of snow geese and emulates the distinctive “Herringbone” and “Straight Line” shaped flight patterns observed during their migration. The algorithm is structured into three main phases for benchmark testing. In the first phase, the Snow Geese Algorithm's numerical results are compared with those of several classical meta-heuristic algorithms using the same test functions and original data from these algorithms. In the second phase, in order to minimize potential variations during the comparison, all algorithms undergo evaluation on a standardized testing platform. In the third phase, this paper applies the Snow Geese Algorithm to solve four widely recognized engineering optimization problems: the tubular column design, piston lever optimization design, reinforced concrete beam design and car side impact design. These real-world engineering problems serve as test cases to assess Snow Geese Algorithm problem-solving capabilities. The primary objective of the Snow Geese Algorithm is to provide an alternative perspective for tackling complex optimization problems. Please note that the complete source code for the Snow Geese Algorithm is publicly available at https://github.com/stones3421/SGA-project.

Characterization and cross-comparison of digital stethoscopes for telehealth remote patient auscultation

— Stethoscopes are commonly used to diagnose cardiac and respiratory diseases. The advent of digital stethoscopes added the capability to remotely monitor the cardiorespiratory well-being of patients and facilitate digital remote auscultations for physicians to examine their patients outside of the clinic. To increase the adoption of a hybrid diagnosis between in-person and remote auscultations, it is important to characterize the frequency response of different configurations of digital stethoscopes. A standard testing platform was adopted from the literature and re-validated by seven physicians. Two wearable and two non-wearable digital stethoscopes were investigated. A similarity factor score was used to analyze select time-synchronized acoustic events that achieved high fidelity between stethoscopes. The frequency responses between devices were compared using the correlation coefficient. Two devices reported the highest correlation coefficient of 0.72 and 0.75 in the wearable and non-wearable categories, respectively. The correlation coefficient of the frequency responses between the same pair of devices on the human chest was 0.91. With such a high agreement in the frequency response between the wearable and non-wearable digital stethoscope, it can be concluded that the configuration of digital stethoscope is not a limiting factor of performance, and both are acceptable and desirable for physicians to adopt either configuration in remote delivery of healthcare.

BIO31: Novel Size-Variable Dedicated Rodent Oxygenator for ECLS Animal Models – Introduction of the “Ratox” Oxygenator and Preliminary In-Vitro Results

Introduction: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) grows in relevance. However, the survival rate of ECLS remains low, overall at around 60 %, mostly due to hemocompatibility issues. Research and development in the field is slow due to several factors, including the lack of sophisticated experimental platforms and models. This publication introduces a rodent–sized oxygenator module (“RatOx”) to enable early and large–scale in–vitro and in–vivo studies, followed by preliminary in–vitro classification tests on gas transfer performance. The oxygenator is designed to allow extensive in–vitro testing with donated human blood as well as economic and reproducible in–vivo testing for fundamental research. Materials and Methods: The novel RatOx’ main feature is the adaptable fiber module size suitable for various rodents like mice, rats, or hamsters. The effective membrane surface area is variable between approximately 10 cm2 and 600 cm2. The priming volume, and hence the hemodilution of the supported small animal, is kept at a minimum. Any type of semipermeable hollow fiber with any surface modification or coating can be mounted. The housing is transparent, hemocompatible, sterilizable and reusable. Oxygen transfer and carbon dioxide transfer over the oxygenator membrane were tested for different blood flows and fiber module sizes according to DIN EN ISO 7199. Similar experiments were conducted by an independent laboratory to test the transferability of the system to other institutions. Results: At the maximum possible amount of effective fiber surface and a blood flow of 100 ml/min, the oxygenator performance has been tested to a maximum of 5.5 ml O2/min and –5.5 ml CO2/min, respectively. For the same operating point, results from the independent laboratory showed transfer rates of 6.27 ml O2/min and –8.2 ml CO2/min, respectively. The priming volume for this the largest fiber module is 5.4 ml, while the smallest possible configuration with a single fiber mat layer has 1.1 ml of priming volume. Discussion, conclusion and outlook: The novel RatOx ECLS system has been evaluated in–vitro to comply to a high degree with all predefined functionality criteria for rodent–sized animal models. The maximum gas transfer efficacy for full-support-scenarios was measured to be approximately 70–80 % of the intended value pre–defined as the demand of a resting Sprague–Dawley rat. The priming volume translates into an oxygenator–caused hemodilution of approximately 25 %. We intend for the RatOx to become a standard testing platform for scientific studies on ECLS therapy and technology. This presentation includes evidence that this system is variable, yet very robust, allowing cross–lab and cross–model testing.

Novel Size-Variable Dedicated Rodent Oxygenator for ECLS Animal Models—Introduction of the “RatOx” Oxygenator and Preliminary In Vitro Results

The overall survival rate of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) remains at 60%. Research and development has been slow, in part due to the lack of sophisticated experimental models. This publication introduces a dedicated rodent oxygenator (“RatOx”) and presents preliminary in vitro classification tests. The RatOx has an adaptable fiber module size for various rodent models. Gas transfer performances over the fiber module for different blood flows and fiber module sizes were tested according to DIN EN ISO 7199. At the maximum possible amount of effective fiber surface area and a blood flow of 100 mL/min, the oxygenator performance was tested to a maximum of 6.27 mL O2/min and 8.2 mL CO2/min, respectively. The priming volume for the largest fiber module is 5.4 mL, while the smallest possible configuration with a single fiber mat layer has a priming volume of 1.1 mL. The novel RatOx ECLS system has been evaluated in vitro and has demonstrated a high degree of compliance with all pre-defined functional criteria for rodent-sized animal models. We intend for the RatOx to become a standard testing platform for scientific studies on ECLS therapy and technology.

Research and optimization of GPSR routing protocol for vehicular ad-hoc network

Security is one of the most critical issues to Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (VANETs) since the information transmitted is asynchronous and distributed. Vulnerability and instability are two of the challenges remain to be addressed by the research community and the industry. In this paper, we first proposed a trust reliability based model and extended the GPSR protocol to TM-GPSR protocol. Then, we improved the LET-GPSR protocol based on the link connection time prediction. On this basis, combined the decision index of the TM-GPSR and LET-GPSR protocols, we proposed the RC-GPSR routing protocol. We built the standard testing platform on the NS2 and SUMO, the average end-to-end delay and packet delivery rate of GPSR protocol and the three updates protocols under different node density, node speed, and malicious node ratio are simulated and evaluated. The results showed that under the same conditions, compared with GPSR protocol, RC-GPSR protocol has a lower average end-to-end delay and a higher packet delivery rate, which effectively improves the link stability and security.

Soft measurement of effluent index in sewage treatment process based on overcomplete broad learning system

To measure whether the sewage treatment meets the standards, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) is often used to determine, but the measurement of this indicator often has a long time lag and difficult to observe the real-time changes of BOD5, which brings inconvenience to the industrial process. The soft measurement technology based on neural network can realize BOD5 prediction at every moment by means of auxiliary variables, which has attracted people’s attention. However, there are still two problems with soft measurement technology, neural network-based soft measurement technology has high computational complexity and a certain time delay in measurement; and it cannot handle non-Gaussian data well. To solve them, this paper introduces an over-complete broad learning system (OBLS) based on feature fusion to deal with the problems of real-time measurement of BOD5 in sewage treatment industrial process. In view of the data characteristics, the feature extraction ability of the BLS is improved, the non-Gaussian characteristic of sewage data is captured by the method of Overcomplete Independent Component Analysis (OICA), and the OBLS is used to deal with the real-time soft measurement. Compared with state-of-the-art methods on the sewage standard test platform, the measurement accuracy of the proposed algorithm is found to be higher and the performance is more stable.

On Performance of Sparse Fast Fourier Transform Algorithms Using the Aliasing Filter

Computing the sparse fast Fourier transform (sFFT) has emerged as a critical topic for a long time because of its high efficiency and wide practicability. More than twenty different sFFT algorithms compute discrete Fourier transform (DFT) by their unique methods so far. In order to use them properly, the urgent topic of great concern is how to analyze and evaluate the performance of these algorithms in theory and practice. This paper mainly discusses the technology and performance of sFFT algorithms using the aliasing filter. In the first part, the paper introduces the three frameworks: the one-shot framework based on the compressed sensing (CS) solver, the peeling framework based on the bipartite graph and the iterative framework based on the binary tree search. Then, we obtain the conclusion of the performance of six corresponding algorithms: the sFFT-DT1.0, sFFT-DT2.0, sFFT-DT3.0, FFAST, R-FFAST, and DSFFT algorithms in theory. In the second part, we make two categories of experiments for computing the signals of different SNRs, different lengths, and different sparsities by a standard testing platform and record the run time, the percentage of the signal sampled, and the L0, L1, and L2 errors both in the exactly sparse case and the general sparse case. The results of these performance analyses are our guide to optimize these algorithms and use them selectively.

Empirical Evaluation of Typical Sparse Fast Fourier Transform Algorithms

Computing the Sparse Fast Fourier Transform(sFFT) has emerged as a critical topic for a long time. The sFFT algorithms decrease the runtime and sampling complexity by taking advantage of the signal's inherent characteristics that a large number of signals are sparse in the frequency domain. More than ten sFFT algorithms have been proposed, which can be classified into many types according to filter, framework, method of location, method of estimation. In this paper, the technology of these algorithms is completely analyzed in theory. The performance of them is thoroughly tested and verified in practice. The techniques involved in different sFFT algorithms include the following contents: five operations of signal, three methods of frequency bucketization, five methods of location, four methods of estimation, two problems caused by bucketization, three methods to solve these two problems, four algorithmic frameworks. All the above technologies and methods are introduced in detail and examples are given to illustrate the above research. After theoretical research, we make experiments for computing the signals of different SNR, length, sparsity by a standard testing platform and record the run time, percentage of the signal sampled and L <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">0</sub> ,L <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">1</sub> ,L <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> error with eight different typical sFFT algorithms. The result of experiments satisfies the inferences obtained in theory. It helps us to optimize these algorithms and use them selectively.

Survey on standardized testing platform of psychological experiment based on Cognitive Atlas

Survey on standardized testing platform of psychological experiment based on Cognitive Atlas

On Performance of Sparse Fast Fourier Transform Algorithms Using the Flat Window Filter

The problem of computing the Sparse Fast Fourier Transform(sFFT) of a $K$ -sparse signal of size $N$ has received significant attention for a long time. The first stage of sFFT is hashing the frequency coefficients into $B(\approx {K})$ buckets named frequency bucketization. The process of frequency bucketization is achieved through the use of filters: Dirichlet kernel filter, aliasing filter, flat filter, etc. The frequency bucketization through these filters can decrease runtime and sampling complexity in low dimensions. It is a hot topic about sFFT algorithms using the flat filter because of its convenience and efficiency since its emergence and wide application. The next stage of sFFT is the spectrum reconstruction by identifying frequencies that are isolated in their buckets. Up to now, there are more than thirty different sFFT algorithms using the sFFT idea as mentioned above by their unique methods. An important question now is how to analyze and evaluate the performance of these sFFT algorithms in theory and practice. In this paper, it is mainly discussed about sFFT algorithms using the flat filter. In the first part, the paper introduces the techniques in detail, including two types of frameworks, five different methods to reconstruct spectrum and corresponding algorithms. We get the conclusion of the performance of these five algorithms, including runtime complexity, sampling complexity and robustness in theory. In the second part, we make three categories of experiments for computing the signals of different SNR, different $N$ , and different $K$ by a standard testing platform and record the run time, percentage of the signal sampled, and $L_{0},L_{1},L_{2}$ error both in the exactly sparse case and general sparse case. The result of experiments is consistent with the inferences obtained in theory. It can help us to optimize these algorithms and use them correctly in the right areas.

High-Resolution Image and Video CubeSat (HiREV): Development of Space Technology Test Platform Using a Low-Cost CubeSat Platform

In this paper, we present high-resolution image and video CubeSat (HiREV), the first constructed 6 U platform to reach the space technology test bed stage, developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). The CubeSat system is a low-cost platform that has been widely applied to various space missions, from missions involving earth observation to deep space. Despite the emergence of the CubeSat technology worldwide, the CubeSat market in Korea is still in the beginning stages, and a standard testing platform is also in demand. For this reason, KARI is starting to develop a 6 U CubeSat platform, which includes a less than 3 U bus system and greater than 3 U payload space. HiREV has been developed with locally manufactured parts, creating a domestic commercial off-the-shelf infrastructure for CubeSat and 3 m resolution camera payload development. Core flight software has also been applied as an on-board flight software system. Presently, we have developed the main system, while HiREV is under space environmental testing.

Toward a standard for the evaluation of PET-Auto-Segmentation methods following the recommendations of AAPM task group No. 211: Requirements and implementation.

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to define the requirements and describe the design and implementation of a standard benchmark tool for evaluation and validation of PET‐auto‐segmentation (PET‐AS) algorithms. This work follows the recommendations of Task Group 211 (TG211) appointed by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM).MethodsThe recommendations published in the AAPM TG211 report were used to derive a set of required features and to guide the design and structure of a benchmarking software tool. These items included the selection of appropriate representative data and reference contours obtained from established approaches and the description of available metrics. The benchmark was designed in a way that it could be extendable by inclusion of bespoke segmentation methods, while maintaining its main purpose of being a standard testing platform for newly developed PET‐AS methods. An example of implementation of the proposed framework, named PETASset, was built. In this work, a selection of PET‐AS methods representing common approaches to PET image segmentation was evaluated within PETASset for the purpose of testing and demonstrating the capabilities of the software as a benchmark platform.ResultsA selection of clinical, physical, and simulated phantom data, including “best estimates” reference contours from macroscopic specimens, simulation template, and CT scans was built into the PETASset application database. Specific metrics such as Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC), Positive Predictive Value (PPV), and Sensitivity (S), were included to allow the user to compare the results of any given PET‐AS algorithm to the reference contours. In addition, a tool to generate structured reports on the evaluation of the performance of PET‐AS algorithms against the reference contours was built. The variation of the metric agreement values with the reference contours across the PET‐AS methods evaluated for demonstration were between 0.51 and 0.83, 0.44 and 0.86, and 0.61 and 1.00 for DSC, PPV, and the S metric, respectively. Examples of agreement limits were provided to show how the software could be used to evaluate a new algorithm against the existing state‐of‐the art.Conclusions PETASset provides a platform that allows standardizing the evaluation and comparison of different PET‐AS methods on a wide range of PET datasets. The developed platform will be available to users willing to evaluate their PET‐AS methods and contribute with more evaluation datasets.

Efficient Identification of Naval High-Speed Craft Shock Mitigation Seat Modal Parameters From Drop-Test Data

Naval high-speed craft (HSC) operating in moderate to high seas experiences high-g and repeated shock loading at the seat–deck interface. These conditions are known to pose a serious potential for injury to the occupants. While various shock-mitigating seats are commercially available; their designs are in many cases quite different, and quantifying their shock attenuation characteristics can be challenging. The need for a standard test platform and experimental analysis methodology to investigate HSC seat effectiveness is a major objective of research being conducted by Carleton University's Applied Dynamics Laboratory (ADL) in partnership with Defence Research and Development Canada-Atlantic (DRDC Atlantic). A drop tower was designed and manufactured for testing HSC seats in order to characterize their shock-mitigating effectiveness by simulating the severe conditions of a slam impact at sea. Further, in order to identify seat dynamic parameters from drop-test data, the eigensystem realization algorithm (ERA), a modal-analysis-based system identification method, was applied to efficiently extract the modal parameters. The technique was shown to successfully extract the damping ratio as well as the damped and undamped natural frequencies of the seats from impact test data. The evaluated dynamic properties of the seats can subsequently inform decisions related to the design and/or procurement of commercially available seats.

Development of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination to Assess Medical Student Competence in the Ocular Examination

Purpose Competently performing the ocular examination is an essential skill of every graduating medical student. Assessment of competence in performing the ocular examination is equally essential. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of tools useful in assessing clinical competence in ophthalmology. The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) format has been shown to be a useful tool to assess clinical competence in other academic settings. It is hypothesized that the OSCE format can be used to assess clinical competence in performing the ocular examination. This study presents the novel use of the OSCE format for assessing competence in obtaining a history of headache and performing the ocular examination by third and fourth year medical students. Methods Observational design was used to assess the competence of third and fourth year medical students in taking a brief history on the chief complaint of headache and performing the ocular examination. The ophthalmology OSCE was used after a one-week ophthalmology clerkship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. Standardized patients were trained by ophthalmology staff prior to the OSCE. The standardized patients were not dilated for the direct ophthalmoscope portion of the examination. Results Students were graded on their performance in obtaining a history of headache and performing the ocular examination. The ocular examination included assessment of ocular motility, pupils, using confrontation to find a visual field defect, and using the direct ophthalmoscope to match a standardized patient's optic nerve to one of four photos in the room. A check box system was used to assess the student's competence. This was reported as pass, marginal, or fail. Failing students were remediated by an ophthalmologist. A total of 384 students took the exam from 2008 to 2012. Overall, 84% received a passing score, 11% received a marginal score, and 5% received a failing score. Conclusion Establishment of competence and assessment of competence continue to be a major focus of medical student education. The OSCE format provides a standardized testing platform to assess competence with performing the ocular examination. Use of standardized patients provides a more natural format than paper-based or other methods of assessment.

A rational framework for evaluating the next generation of vaccines against Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis.

Since the early 1980s, several investigations have focused on developing a vaccine against Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), the causative agent of Johne's disease in cattle and sheep. These studies used whole-cell inactivated vaccines that have proven useful in limiting disease progression, but have not prevented infection. In contrast, modified live vaccines that invoke a Th1 type immune response, may improve protection against infection. Spurred by recent advances in the ability to create defined knockouts in MAP, several independent laboratories have developed modified live vaccine candidates by transpositional mutation of virulence and metabolic genes in MAP. In order to accelerate the process of identification and comparative evaluation of the most promising modified live MAP vaccine candidates, members of a multi-institutional USDA-funded research consortium, the Johne's disease integrated program (JDIP), met to establish a standardized testing platform using agreed upon protocols. A total of 22 candidates vaccine strains developed in five independent laboratories in the United States and New Zealand voluntarily entered into a double blind stage gated trial pipeline. In Phase I, the survival characteristics of each candidate were determined in bovine macrophages. Attenuated strains moved to Phase II, where tissue colonization of C57/BL6 mice were evaluated in a challenge model. In Phase III, five promising candidates from Phase I and II were evaluated for their ability to reduce fecal shedding, tissue colonization and pathology in a baby goat challenge model. Formation of a multi-institutional consortium for vaccine strain evaluation has revealed insights for the implementation of vaccine trials for Johne's disease and other animal pathogens. We conclude by suggesting the best way forward based on this 3-phase trial experience and challenge the rationale for use of a macrophage-to-mouse-to native host pipeline for MAP vaccine development.

Simulation of storm event flow for pilot runoff treatment wetland

In order to control the contaminants impairment in the urban stormwater, it is important to evaluate the changing patterns of pollutants in stormwater runoff and also the selected removal performance of different treatment approaches. Thus it is necessary to design the standard test platform and compare the performance results of various runoff treatment facilities under similar conditions. A simple storm event inflow was designed to simulate a complex storm event using only a pump and a horizontal cylinder barrel. On November 5, 2011 this design was used to simulate a storm event in a pilot wetland located at the USDA Kika de la Garza Plant Material Center, Kingsville, TX. The results indicated that two-phase straight inflow was changed to right-skewed convex curve after cylinder outflow transformation. And the whole simulation system could be used as a qualified evaluation platform for storm runoff treatment.

Evaluation of tensile strength of tissue adhesives and sutures for clear corneal incisions using porcine and bovine eyes, with a novel standardized testing platform

BackgroundTissue adhesives for ophthalmologic applications were proposed almost 50 years ago, yet to date no adequate tissue glues have been identified that combine strong sealing properties with adequate safety and absence of postsurgical side effects. In recent years, cataract surgeries and Descemet’s stripping with endothelial keratoplasty procedures have significantly increased the number of clear corneal incisions performed. One of the obstacles to discovery and development of novel tissue adhesives has been the result of nonstandardized testing of potential tissue glues.MethodsWe developed an instrument capable of controlling intraocular pressure in explanted porcine and bovine eyes in order to evaluate sealants, adhesives, and surgical closure methods used in ophthalmic surgery in a controlled, repeatable, and validated fashion. We herein developed and validated our instrument by testing the adhesive properties of cyanoacrylate glue in both porcine and bovine explant eyes.ResultsThe instrument applied and maintained intraocular pressure through a broad range of physiological intraocular pressures. Cyanoacrylate-based glues showed significantly enhanced sealing properties of clear corneal incisions compared with sutured wounds.ConclusionThis study shows the feasibility of our instrument for reliable and standardized testing of tissue adhesive for ophthalmological surgery.